| My husband and I have been breeding and raising | | | | repeated several times, then rest. Do it again later |
| Australian Shepherds for over 20 years and have | | | | and repeat several times a day. Pretty soon, when |
| learned quite a few tips and methods to train them | | | | you either hold your hand out flat and move it away |
| easily. It really doesn't matter, though, what breed of | | | | from your body or say sit, your puppy or dog will |
| dog or puppy you have or if it's a mixed breed. | | | | not be able to resist sitting. Remember to praise your |
| These methods will work for you. If you're like many | | | | dog or pup each and every time! |
| dog owners, you're looking for (immediate) relief. | | | | The same technique can be used with the command |
| Your experience is not unique. But training your | | | | "stay", though this one takes a little more time. You |
| puppy or older dog does take some time and effort. | | | | change your hand signal to an open palm, positioned |
| It is well worth the effort and, because dogs are | | | | like stop. As you slowly back away from your pup or |
| pack animals, and naturally want to please their | | | | dog, with your hand in the 'stop' position, say stay, |
| owners, your dog will love it too! And it's just more | | | | stay, stay. At first, you won't get very far before |
| fun for you to have a well-trained dog - you can do | | | | your dog or pup come running to you. The farther |
| more exciting things, enjoy more experiences and | | | | you can go away, the better. Then approach your |
| share a fuller, richer relationship together. | | | | pup (if its stayed) and praise it. |
| But I'm going to share with you here a few tips that | | | | 3. Use hand signals or whistle to imprint COME. Again, |
| have worked for us. Generally, we start training our | | | | we have found sounds over words are much more |
| pups at the five or six week stage as we discovered | | | | reliable and affective. We teach our pups to come by |
| the sooner we can imprint the desired behavior, the | | | | either whistling (my husband does this, I can't whistle) |
| quicker and more permanent it is. But, you can | | | | or by slapping the side of my leg or clapping. Again, |
| 're-train' an older dog, too, using these tips, it just | | | | as we do these commands we are saying "come, |
| takes a little longer and repetition and consistency are | | | | come, come" to our pup. If it does come while we |
| the key. | | | | are doing the command, we praise it like all get out! |
| 1. We never use the word NO. Sounds strange, | | | | It doesn't take long for our pups to respond to our |
| doesn't it? But think about it? How many other times | | | | commands. They love the praise and love pleasing us. |
| in your daily life do use that word? With your kids | | | | 4. We do not use "treats" as rewards. Because we |
| and spouse? Answering questions? Your dog or | | | | raise working stock dogs, we do not ever use treats |
| puppy will become immune to that 'sound'. Instead, | | | | as rewards. This becomes the dogs focus and they |
| we use a harsh sounding command, something like | | | | become 'mooche- pooches". Praise works as well, if |
| "Ah-Uh" (boy, that was hard to figure out how to | | | | not better. We do not give our pups toys that are |
| write!). It grabs your dog/puppy's attention, it carries | | | | cloth or cloth-type, as this teaches them that cloth |
| farther so your dog or pup hears it at a distance and | | | | objects are acceptable to chew on and there goes |
| no one else can get confused as to who you are | | | | your slippers, socks, furniture--you name it! Same |
| directing it to. | | | | goes for rawhide objects, your shoes are at risk! |
| 2. Teaching your dog or pup to sit on command. | | | | This applies to puppies, older dogs seem to be able |
| When you have imprinted the "sit" command in your | | | | to distinguish between toys and non-toys. |
| pup or dog, you can use it successfully to control | | | | If If you can give the same cue every time with the |
| your dog. Use it like the "Ah-Uh" to stop inappropriate | | | | same action, your puppy will learn to associate the |
| behavior. Your pup or dog will not be able to not sit | | | | two. It's not only for your sake but also for your |
| when the command is given. | | | | dog's own health, happiness and overall well-being. |
| Start with your pup in front of you and looking at | | | | Why? Because a well-trained dog is healthier and |
| you (your pup should be standing). Place your hand a | | | | happier, and simply leads a better life than one who is |
| few inches above its head, palm open, and down. | | | | not well-trained. |
| Now, as you move your hand down your pups back | | | | And it's just more fun for you to have a well-trained |
| (not touching), say sit, sit, sit, and when you reach | | | | dog - you can do more exciting things, enjoy more |
| the back end, gently push your pup into a sitting | | | | experiences and share a fuller, richer relationship |
| position. Be sure to praise your dog or pup when it | | | | together. |
| does it-even though you were helping! This should be | | | | |